Electric-lamp socket



Feb. 19; 1929.

L. MAYER ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET Filed May 25, 1926 ,zswerwav Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEO MAYER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY COLE COMPANY, OF

1,702,655 PATENT OFFICE.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC -LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed May 25,

This invention relates to an electric lamp socket and particularly to sockets such as are used in connection with automobile lights.

It is an object of the invention to produce a simple, compact, and inexpensive socket wherein the removal of the plug terminal, or the rotation thereof to control the lamp, is obviated.

Heretofore in sockets of thisclass the light, or lamp control, was accomplished by means of a switch located exteriorly of the socket, or by the removal of the terminal plug therefrom, or by rotation of the terminal plug.

The last mentioned means was more commonly used, and while in some respect it gave satisfaction, in other respects it was a source of considerable trouble, as it has been found that the frequent rotation of the plug to make or break the circuit always had a tendency to and very often did cause a breakage of one or both of the wires secured thereto, which was not often discovered without annoying investigation and delay because of lack of knowledge of the constantly menacing condition existing.

The present invention eliminates this bac feature by the introduction of a simple switch into the socket, and so arranging it with respect thereto that it occupies a position intermediate the lamp and the terminal plug, whereby the said plug may be permanently secured to the socket, simple spring pressed electrical contacts being employed to ensure perfect contact and to compensate for wear.

Other objects of the invention and certain features of construction and arrangement thereof will be fully understood from a description of the drawing and the claim hereinafter given.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 represents the improved lamp socket in longitudinal section, certain parts being left 111 elevation for clearness.

Figure 2 1s a section on the line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 34 look- 1926. Serial No. 111,560.

of lamp socket which might be used for the dome light of an automobile, but it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise construction and arrangement shown as it is possible to make changes therein without departing from its spirit and scope.

The casing 10 at the left end thereof is provided with suitablemeans such bayonet joints 11, one of which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, to receive pins'12 of a lamp 13 in usual and well known manner.

At its right end the casing 10 is provided with a terminal plug 14 of insulating material fixedly secured against rotation in said casing, said plug having the cylindrical metallic members 15 and 16 arranged to receive the wires 17 and 18, the member 15 has its inner end flush with the corresponding face of the plug 14, and the member 16 has electrical connection with the casing 10 through the medium of the spring 19.

Interposed bet-ween the lamp 13 and the plug 14 is a revoluble plug member or switch comprising a metal band 21 surrounding insulating material 22 in which is secured a tubular member 23 arranged to house the headed inner ends of the plungers 24 and 25 between which is a spring 26 tending to separate them.

The plungers 24 and 25 are eccentrically mounted in the rotatable plug, their axes being arranged to align with the axis of the cylindrical member 15 when the lamp is to be lighted, and to be circularly swung and in parallelism therewith when the light from the lamp is to be discontinued, the first movement, or lighting the lamp brings the plunger 24 in contact with the member 15, while the second movement, or discontinuing the light is caused by rotating the plug carrying the said. plungers so that the said plunger 24 will occupy the approximate position with respect to the member 15 seen in dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawing.

The outer end-of the plunger 25 has a flange 27 which is arranged to be in constant contact with the electrical terminal in the base of the lamp 13 when the said lamp is in the socket or casing 10, regardless of the position of the plunger 24 with respect to the member 15. V

For the purpose of rotating the plunger carrying plug, a hand piece or lever 28 is provided which enters an elongated slot 29 in the casing 10, and is screw-threaded into the said plug, the said slot being of such length to permit of approximately a quarter turn of the plug Which distance is ample to ensure a break in contact between the plunger Qdand member 15.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that when the lever 28 is moved to light the lamp, the current passing from the wire 1'7 Will follow through the member 15, plunger 24, spring 26, plunger 25 to the lamp 123, and thence from the base of the lamp to the ing 10, spring 19, member 16 to the Wire- 18.

When the said lever is moved to discontinue the light, the plunger 24: will be moved out of contact with the member 15 to rest on the insulation 22, and the electrical contact will be broken at that point only, as the plunger 25 Will continue to contact With the terminal of the lamp base as previously described.

The present invention is an improvement on an application filed by me September 17, 1925, Ser. No. 57,000.

daving described the invention I claim:

The improved combination of an electric lamp and lamp socket switch comprising in combination, a tubular casing enclosing the base of said lamp at one end and a stationary terminal plug at the other end thereof, a revolvable switch member located Within said casing interposed between said lamp base and said terminal member, and provided with a yieldably actuated contact member eccentrically located therein, one end of which is adapted to continuously contact With said lamp base and the other end of which is adapted to intermittently contact ith a terminal in said terminal plug, the horizontal axis of said contact member being parallel to the horizontal axis of said casing.

LEO MAYER, 

